Kota Kaneko and Satoshi Kodaira shared the early honours at this week’s Kansai Open Golf Championship after returning with matching seven-under-par 63 at the Hino Golf Club in Shiga Prefecture on Thursday.
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Kaneko kept a clean card with seven birdies, while Kodaira traded six birdies and an eagle against a lone bogey.
The duo led by one over Taihei Sato, who signed for a blemish-free 64 to end day one in third place on his own.
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Kaneko, who is aiming for his first JGTO victory, got his round off to a flying start with an opening birdie on the first hole. He then drained a 10-meter putt on the third hole for another birdie.
After turning in 33, he fired three successive birdies from the 10th hole before adding more birdies on 16 and 17.
Into his third season on the JGTO, Kaneko has set his sights on his breakthrough early in the season.
“If I finish third on the money list, I can play on the DP World Tour, and if I win the money title, I can take part in the Korn Ferry Tour Q-School,” said Kaneko.
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“But for now, I just want to keep doing what I did today—focus on each shot carefully. First, I’ll work hard tomorrow, and I hope to be in a good position for the weekend.”
While the 22-year-old Kaneko chases his maiden win, seasoned campaigner Kodaira will be aiming for his eighth JGTO title.
The 35-year-old went out in 31 from the back-nine 10, before reaching home with a flawless inward-nine, highlighted by three birdies on holes one, five and seven.
